Kids at Burning Seed

Children of the Revolution

Thinking of bringing your kids? At Burning Seed we thrive on diversity, participation, playfulness and imagination, and this makes it a great environment for kids to experience and engage in the values that make Burning Seed so special. So, yes, you'll find lotsa mini-me Burners at the event. They help make our community… a community.

But while Seed is family friendly, it’s not a family festival. If you’re planning to bring the kids along to Burning Seed, there are a few things you’ll need to consider to make sure it’s an experience you’ll never forget — for the right reasons!

You’re responsible

You — yes you! — are ultimately responsible for your kids, and that means knowing where they are at all times. In fact, it's a condition of entry that an adult accompanies kids 16 and under at all times.

You might think your teenager, or even your toddler, is old enough to seek out their own experience and that’s cool, but remember: radical self-expression manifests in many different ways. It’s not up to other Burners to check their behaviour in front of your kids — it’s up to you as a parent to decide what’s suitable or not, and to give them context.

Risk and reward

Any Burn can be a radical and challenging environment, and Seed is no exception. You need to be sure you’re comfortable exposing your kids, whatever age they are, to an adult environment where anything can happen. For many parents the experience can provide a positive catalyst for open and rewarding conversations with kids about some of those things you probably wouldn’t bring up over dinner at grandma’s place.

Kids' Camp

If you’re looking for a totally kid-friendly space, particularly if you have younger kids, then look no further than Kids Camp. This is a space for kids to play and have a safe mini-Burner experience, which allows them to live out the 10 Principles in a way that is meaningful for them. A dedicated crew gift their time and energy to plan and manage this space, which benefits families, kids and everyone at Seed.

But Kids' Camp ain’t no creche! It’s a generous and supportive environment that gives parents the chance to work with other parents so they can all have a balanced burn — it’s not a place to dump your kid so you can go party all night on the Paddock!

For those adults spending time at Kids' Camp — whether you have kids or not — you also need to be mindful of how you party there too. There are plenty of places for grown-up fun around the Paddock, while Kids Camp is a baby Burner bubble where adults need to be mindful of kid-appropriate behaviour.

Activities for kids

Kids are natural little burners. The Kids Camp Crew have arranged dozens of structured morning/arvo activities this year, from art and nature projects, kids cinema and afternoon yoga to Theme Camp visits and a pool party. But as the week goes on, you’ll find kids, like the rest of us, collaborate, connect and do their own thing.

Survival tips

If you've ever gone camping with your kids, you're halfway home. And everything in the Survival Guide applies doubly to kids: water, food, shade, sunblock, comfortable clothes, and knowing their (and your) limits are all important to being able to enjoy the experience.

It's a really good idea to get your kids fed and ready for bed BEFORE it gets dark. After dark, everything gets harder. It's much more fun to have everything prepared before dark so the little tykes can hit the hay without a hassle as soon as they're tired.

CONSTANT HYDRATION. Dehydration is not only dangerous but will cause anyone, adults included, to get irritable, angry and difficult to deal with. Carry a water bottle at all times!

Whenever you're feeling stressed or your kid doesn't seem to be coping, you should H.A.L.T — and assess whether or not the underlying cause of non-coping is because you are Hungry/Angry/Lonely/Tired. Having a drink and something to eat always helps.